Production and purification of CGTase of alkalophylicBacillus isolated from Brazilian soil

Alkalophylic bacilli that produce cyclodextringlycosyltransferase (CGTase) were isolated from Brazilian soil, with a scheme of two plating steps. In the first step, the bacterial isolate forms a halo in the cultivation medium that contains γ-cyclodextrin (CD) complexing dyes. The CGTase of an isolate was purified 157-fold by biospecific affinity chromatography, with β-CD showing a mol wt of 77,580 Daltons. It produces a γ- to β-CD ratio of 0.156 and a small amount of α-CD, using maltodextrin 10% as substrate, at 50°C, pH 8.0 and 22 h reaction time, reaching 21.4% conversion of the substrate to cyclodextrins. In the second screening step, the isolates chosen give larger halos with β-CD complexing dyes, and smaller halos with β-CD complexing dyes, leading to a 30% improvement in γ-CD selectivity, although at lower total yield for cyclodextrins (11.5%).     

Synthesis of novel unsymmetrical phthalocyanines substituted with crown ether and nitro groups

This work reports on the synthesis of new unsymmetrically substituted phthalocyanines (M = Zn, Cu, Co, Ni) bearing three benzo-15-crown-5 units through oxy bridges and a nitro group. Phthalocyanines were prepared by a statistical condensation of 4-nitro phthalonitrile and 1-{[(benzo-15-crown-5)-4′-yl]oxy}phthalonitrile in the presence of anhydrous metal salts. All the target unsymmetrical phthalocyanines were separated by column chromatography and characterized elemental analyses, ¹H NMR, IR, mass and UV–Vis spectral data. Electrochemical behaviors of Cu (II) phthalocyanine by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry techniques gave two common phthalocyanine ring reductions and one ring oxidation processes. Peak-to-peak separation of the processes II and III (388 mV) and the measure of gap (1.672 V) between the HOMO and LUMO for the complex, fits a phthalocyanine with electrochemically inactive metal center.     

Biological UV dosimeters in the assessment of the biological hazard from environmental radiation

To determine the impact of environmental UV radiation, biological dosimeters that weight directly the incident UV components of sunlight have been developed, improved and evaluated in the frame of the BIODOS project. Four DNA-based biological dosimeters ((i) phage T7, (ii) uracil thin layer, (iii) spore dosimeter and (iv) DLR-biofilm) have been assessed from the viewpoint of their biological relevance, spectral response and quantification of their biological effectiveness. The biological dosimeters have been validated by comparing their readings with weighted spectroradiometer data, by comparison with other biological doses, as well as with the determined amounts of DNA UV photoproducts. The data presented here demonstrate that the biological dosimeters are potentially reliable field dosimeters for measuring the integrated biologically effective irradiance for DNA damage.     

Alcohol-soluble functional vic-dioxime bearing alcoholhexylsulfanyl moieties: preparation, spectroscopy and electrochemistry

A new alcohol soluble functionalized vic-dioxime, bis-[(1-hydroxyhexyl)-(8,9-hydroxyimino)-7,10-dithiahexacosane (LH₂), and its alcohol-soluble mono and dinuclear complexes (Ni^II, Cu^II, Co^II, Mn^II, Pd^II and UO ₂ ^II ) have been prepared from 6-mercapto-1-hexanol and (E,E)-dichloroglyoxime under high dilution basic conditions. Reactive polyalcohol moieties appended at the periphery of the oxime containing two different heteroatoms (S-, O-), serve as a weak exocyclic binding sites for Pd^II and Ag^I metal ions and also provide solubility for the vic-dioxime complexes in low molecular-weight alcohols. Both mono-nuclear (LH)₂M and homodinuclear (LH)₂(UO₂)₂(OH)₂ and heterotrinuclear (LH)₂MM ₂ ^′ Xn, where M = Co^II M′ = Pd^II, X = Cl⁻, n = 4 and Ag^I X = NO ₃ ⁻ , n = 2) complexes have been obtained with a 1:2, 2:2, 3:2 metal/ligand ratio, respectively. Electronic spectra of the modified vic-dioximes exhibit monitorable changes in UV. All mono and dinuclear-complexes are soluble in common organic solvents. The elemental analysis, ¹H-n.m.r, i.r., u.v–vis, and f.a.b.–m.s data and by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry measurements are presented.     

From Low- to High-Dimensional Moments Without Magic

We aim to compute the first few moments of a high-dimensional random vector from the first few moments of a number of its low-dimensional projections. To this end, we identify algebraic conditions on the set of low-dimensional projectors that yield explicit reconstruction formulas. We also provide a computational framework, with which suitable projectors can be derived by solving an optimization problem. Finally, we show that randomized projections permit approximate recovery.     

Expedient and Diastereodivergent Assembly of Terpenoid Decalin Subunits having Quaternary Stereocenters through Organocatalytic Robinson Annulation of Nazarov Reagent

We report an expedient approach to highly functionalized cis‐ and trans‐decalines that could function as key structural subunits toward the synthesis of various classes of terpenoids. Key to the strategy is an organocatalyzed Robinson annulation reaction of the Nazarov reagent that affords chiral enone building blocks with high enantioselectivities. The quaternary carbon stereogenic center can direct the subsequent reactions and allow the rapid and diastereoconvergent assembly of complex decalines with contiguous stereocenters.     

Nonlinear ion transport in liquid and solid electrolytes

This paper describes nonlinear ion transport properties of liquid and solid electrolytes. Typically, the relation between ionic current density and electric field becomes nonlinear at electric fields above 50–100?kV/cm. We review the 1st and 2nd Wien effect found in classical strong and weak electrolyte solutions as well as the strong nonlinear ion transport effects observed for inorganic glasses and for polymer electrolytes. Furthermore, we give an overview over models describing nonlinear ion transport in electrolyte solutions, in glasses and in polymers. Recent results are presented for the nonlinear ionic conductivity of supercooled ionic liquids. We show that supercooled ionic liquids exhibit anomalous Wien effects, which are clearly distinct from the classical Wien effects. We also discuss the frequency dependence of higher-order conductivity and permittivity spectra of these liquids.     

Studies on self-assembly hydrothermal fabrication and thermal stability of Chromium oxyhydroxide nanomaterials synthesised from Chromium oxide colloids

Chromium oxyhydroxide nanomaterials with narrow size-distribution were synthesised through a simple hydrothermal method. Experimental conditions, such as reaction duration and pH values of the precipitation process and hydrothermal treatment played important roles in determining the nature of the final product chromium oxyhydroxide nanomaterials. The effect of these synthesis parameters were studied with the assistance of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses. This research has developed a controllable synthesis of Chromium oxyhydroxide nanomaterials from Chromium oxide colloids.     

THE ROLE OF INTERFACIAL INTERACTIONS IN THE PARTICLE/BUBBLE ATTACHMENT

The Van Oss surface thermodynamic theory of polar and apolar interfacial interactions was extended to the interaction between mineral surfaces and bubbles across liquid media. The acid base (polar) interfacial interactions are supposed to be responsible for the hydration repulsion between a hydrophilic mineral and a bubble as well as for the hydrophobic attraction between a hydrophobic mineral and the bubble.